After a nearly four-year absence from MMA, Nate Loughran (9-1) is getting back on the horse.

The UFC vet is dropping from middleweight to welterweight and is slated to meet Bellator and Tachi Palace Fights vet Jaime Jara (32-10) at “Cage Combat FC: The Return,” which takes place Saturday at Grace Pavilion in Santa Rosa, Calif.

A student of onetime UFC middleweight challenger David Terrell, Loughran brings a virtually unblemished resume to the cage.

Loughran most recently appeared at UFC Fight Night 16, where he lost to Tim Credeur by second-round TKO. He suffered a broken rib and cartilage damage during the fight, which left him unable to answer the bell for the third round in the December 2008 event.

A return to the cage months later was delayed by the injury, and the California native hasn’t fought since.

Perhaps owing to his training pedigree, Loughran offers a serious submission threat going into the fight. He’s ended eight of his nine pro fights by tapping out opponents, and he’s earned seven of them in the first round.

Jara, a member of Carnage Fight Team, has also earned most of his victories by way of submission. Although he brings more than 40 fights’ worth of experience to the cage, he has fallen short to top-tier opposition with losses to UFC vets Jay Silva, Scott Smith and Rashad Evans.

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